Cillian has played professionally and has toured all ovrAmerica/Europe/Japan/
New Zealand and Australia. Since 1999, he has been a member of the band “Lunasa”, with whom he has recorded 6 albums. He has also performed and toured with “Riverdance”, Natalie Merchant, Tim O Brien & Mary Chapin-Carpenter in “The Crossing”, In the past couple of years, he has worked on various collaborations between traditional and classical music. He has recorded on over 40 albums.
John Taylor, a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, started playing fiddle when he was eight years old. John has recorded albums with pianist Andy Imbri, with the dance band Fiddlesticks and Ivory, the group Men of Worth, and with Ed Miller. He has played for dance tours in Scotland and New Zealand and regularly plays for dances and dance workshops throughout the US.
John Doyle’s gifts as a guitarist, songwriter, vocalist, and producer have played an essential role in the ongoing renaissance of Irish traditional music.
As a member of Irish-American supergroup Solas – and a highly sought-after session player – Doyle pioneered a rhythmic, sophisticated approach to Irish guitar accompaniment, setting a new standard for the instrument.
“It's seldom that instruments are reinvented by individual musicians. Larry Adler did it with a harmonica; so did Pierre Bensusan with his acoustic fingerstyle guitar. And now Niall Vallely has done it again with the humble concertina.” Siobhán Long, The Irish Times “Niall is one of the most original and virtuosic concertina players in the history of Irish music.” Irish America Magazine
While he may be best known for his playing and singing of Celtic music, Hanz's deep roots are in the shakuhachi, the traditional bamboo "Zen flute" of Japan. Hanz is the world’s only sixth generation shakuhachi player, following in the footsteps of his father, Kinko Ryu Grand Master Kodo Araki V. He began teaching himself Irish/Scottish tunes on the flute and penny-whistle. His ability on the flute and his uncanny command of traditional songs with his voice quickly made him a fixture of the Irish music scene in America.
Eric Cunningham from Co Galway is the man behind the World Fleadh which takes place in Castlebar. As a musician he has performed in numerous concert halls across six continents from Beijing to Broadway. He has been a soloist with various orchestras. In addition, he has worked and recorded with top Irish trad artists like De Dannan
Mike Galvin is a native Of Killarney. He started playing guitar at five. Mike is an extremely versatile musician being able to work in most musical styles. " Mike Galvin is out of Killarney and is the best guitar player in Ireland. Yup. You read it right. We said, 'the best'. And, it is true. You'll see. Amazing musician." Irish American News
Frankie Gavin is one of the genuine legends of Irish music. From his first tv appearance playing the tin-whistle when he was seven, through sixteen albums with the seminal Dé Dannan, seven solo albums, ‘the prince of Irish fiddlers' is one of the outstanding performers of the past thirty years.
MASTER INSTRUCTOR WORKSHOPS/LECTURES
Limited space. 75 minute Advance tickets required $12.00 each with festival ticket.
BEGINNER WORKSHOPS/HISTORICAL LECTURES
These 1 hour workshops do not require registration and are free to festival attendees.
SATURDAY $12.00 MASTER WORKSHOPS
The festival offers both paid, master instructed workshops as well as free beginner workshops. Free workshops are open to all festival goers at no cost and have unlimited space.

If you are interested in one of the free workshops or lectures, all you have to do is show up at the designated time and place and enjoy. However, paid workshops, are 12.00 each with festival ticket and can be paid at the tent.
ADVANCED BODHRAN (DRUM)
SATURDAY - 3:30pm
INSTRUCTOR: ERIC CUNNINGHAM
WEST WORKSHOP TENT - $12.00
The Austin Celtic Festival is proud to offer students and interested parties the chance to be directed and counseled by some of today's leading experts in Celtic music. In general our paid workshops, led by our headliners are casual, question and answer arenas for persons already familiar with the subject instrument and are looking for progressive instruction or a chance to ask more complex questions. You should also be prepared for practical application of a particular technique or style favored by the headlining instructor. Direction and focus of the workshops can be fluid and develop based on the needs of the attending students. Although, they might not necessarily be needed, a well prepared student will have their instrument, pen and paper and a recorder with them. These workshops are limited to a smaller number to be more effective.
Novice or beginners may purchase tickets and attend as observers.
SONGS OF ROBERT BURNS
SUNDAY: 5:15PM
HOST: ED MILLER
KELPIE DANCE STAGE - FREE
MASTER INSTRUCTOR WORKSHOPS/LECTURES
Limited space. Advance tickets required $12.00 each with festival ticket.
BEGINNER WORKSHOPS/HISTORICAL LECTURES
These workshops do not require registration and
are free to festival attendees. Unlimited space.
SATURDAY FREE WORKSHOPS
SUNDAY $12.00 MASTER WORKSHOPS
SUNDAY FREE WORKSHOPS
IRISH GUITAR WORKSHOP
SUNDAY - 3:00pm
INSTRUCTOR: JOHN DOYLE
WEST WORKSHOP TENT - $12.00
CONCERTINA WORKSHOP
SUNDAY - 4:30pm
INSTRUCTOR: NIALL VALLELY
WEST WORKSHOP TENT - $12.00
UILLEAN PIPE WORKSHOP
SUNDAY - 12:00pm
INSTRUCTOR: CILLIAN VALLELY
WEST WORKSHOP TENT - $12.00
ADVANCED IRISH FIDDLE
SATURDAY - 12:30pm
INSTRUCTOR: FRANKIE GAVIN
WEST WORKSHOP TENT - $12.00
SCOTTISH FIDDLE
SUNDAY - 1:30pm
INSTRUCTOR: JOHN TAYLOR
WEST WORKSHOP TENT - $12.00
ADVANCED GUITAR WORKSHOP
SATURDAY - 2:00pm
INSTRUCTOR: MIKE GALVAN
WEST WORKSHOP TENT - $12.00
ACF SCHOOL OF TRADITIONAL ARTS
ADVANCED FLUTE WORKSHOP
SATURDAY - 5:00pm
INSTRUCTOR: HANZ ARAKI
WEST WORKSHOP TENT - $12.00
MASTER INSTRUCTOR WORKSHOPS/LECTURES
Limited space. 75 minute Advance tickets required $12.00 each with festival ticket.
BEGINNING IRISH FIDDLE FOR CHILDREN
SATURDAY: 12:15PM
HOST: KATHERYN CLAIRE
SEELIE COURT GRANDSTAND - FREE
BEGINNING IRISH GUITAR
SATURDAY : 1:30PM
INSTRUCTOR: JEFF MOORE
SEELIE COURT GRANDSTAND - FREE
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE
SATURDAY : 1:45PM
INSTRUCTOR: SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE ALLIANCE
KELPIE DANCE STAGE/EAST SIDE TENT- FREE
BEGINNING IRISH LANGUAGE FUN
SATURDAY : 2:00PM
INSTRUCTOR: GAELIC LEAGUE
EAST SIDE PAVILLION - FREE
CELTIC BALLADS AND SONGS
SATURDAY : 2:45PM
INSTRUCTOR: MICHELLE LALLY
SEELIE COURT GRANDSTAND - FREE
CELTIC POETRY
SATURDAY: 5:15PM
INSTRUCTOR: PROFESSOR BRAD STRAHAN
SEELIE COURT GRANDSTAND - FREE
SESSION CONFESSIONS
SATURDAY: 4:00PM
INSTRUCTOR: JOHN WILLIAMS
Chicago Irish session overlord
John Williams shall pontificate on
session etiquette, good versus evil,
and improving conditions for
ripening your session experience.
Topics include starting a session,
sustaining one, and killing one.
Names shall be changed to protect
the innocent. The interactive component of this seminar will include elements resembling music and humor.
SEELIE COURT GRANDSTAND - FREE
HIGHLAND WEAPONS
SATURDAY: 5:15PM
INSTRUCTOR: KIERON ELLIOTT
Host of Spike TV's Deadliest
Warrior Aftermath and Deadliest
Warrior Armory.
KELPIE DANCE STAGE - FREE
IRISH CEILI DANCING
SUNDAY : NOON
INSTRUCTOR: INISHFREE SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCE
KELPIE DANCE STAGE - FREE
BEGINNING IRISH FIDDLE
SUNDAY : 12:15PM
INSTRUCTOR: CHRIS BUCKLEY
SEELIE COURT GRANDSTAND - FREE
INTRO TO IRISH FLUTE/WHISTLE
SUNDAY: 1:30PM
INSTRUCTOR: JOHN WILLIAMS
SEELIE COURT GRANDSTAND - FREE
BEGINNING IRISH LANGUAGE FUN
SUNDAY : 2:00PM
INSTRUCTOR: GAELIC LEAGUE
EAST SIDE PAVILLION - FREE
HIGHLAND WEAPONS
SUNDAY: 2:45PM
INSTRUCTOR: KIERON ELLIOTT
Host of Spike TV's Deadliest
Warrior Aftermath and Deadliest
Warrior Armory.
KELPIE DANCE STAGE - FREE
IRISH STORYTELLING
SUNDAY: 3:45PM
HOST: ALL IRELAND STORYTELLING CHAMPION MAIRTIN DE COGAIN
SEELIE COURT GRANDSTANDS - FREE
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE WORKSHOP
SUNDAY : 3:45 PM
INSTRUCTOR: ASCDS YOUTH DANCERS
KELPIE DANCE STAGE - FREE